Chinese firm tests self-driving truck

Suning Logistics, a subsidiary of Chinese commercial giant Suning Holdings Group, has completed driving tests for its autonomous heavy-duty truck.

The truck, named Strolling Dragon, was launched in Shanghai and is leading the company’s push towards automated fleet.

Suning Holdings Group chairman Zhang Jindong says the trial was “a groundbreaking accomplishment”.

“Suning’s goal is to develop its logistics business into the biggest and most intelligent retail infrastructure network in China.

“The promise of automation solutions will not only boost efficiency in Suning’s logistics operations, but also benefit the industry, and consumers, by offering more possibilities, and a better shopping experience,” Jindong says.

Strolling Dragon is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and laser radar that can accurately recognise obstacles at a distance of over 300 meters, even at high speed.

The unmanned truck can make emergency stops, or avoid obstacles at a response rate of 25 milliseconds.

Suning was founded in 1990 and has annual sales of US$65.7 billion.